Nitori Quest - For Science, We March!

[FinnKaenbyou]

>"Well, since always by birth. Since, like, fifteen minutes ago as far as everyone else is concerned. Right, let's get the hell out of here."
>Are there windows? If so, go gaze from them. And assess their removability via tools, or breakability.

>"Sounds like your family must've been real jerks if this is how they treat you."
Good news: There are windows. Bad news: There are now walls behind them, made of what looks like solid brick. You could take it down with Rocky, but it'd take a few shots, and the noise would undoubtedly attract attention. They really thought ahead.

> Note to self: Make Rocky the Shocker activate by mental or vocal command

You'll need to take some time at the shack to examine the circuits in the PDA to replicate the voice recognition. Another time.

Kai is fumbling around in her pockets for something she can offer to help. Unfortunately, she isn't very well equipped for various reasons - all she has on her right now are a few screwdrivers, some bolts, and blueprints for inventions that either already exist or are blatantly absurd.
You like her already.

"Dammit, this is like one of those closed room puzzles. I suck at these."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hmmm."
>Consider bits and bobs. Consider Rocky the Shocker.
>Consider using the shocker bits to generate more power.
>Consider how well we can fly with a human in hand.

[E-Nazrin]

>inventory
>Explosives knowledge.
>Consider whether the room would remain locked if you were found vanished.
>How likely is it that someone's peeping on the room to keep an eye on us?
>Contemplate molestation.

[Doll.S CUBE]

> How did we escape last time?

[FinnKaenbyou]

>"Hmmm."
>Consider bits and bobs. Consider Rocky the Shocker.
>Consider using the shocker bits to generate more power.
>Consider how well we can fly with a human in hand.

>Contrary to what you learned from the human show Tool Time, it's not always possible to add more power to everything. The walls blocking the windows look doubly reinforced, anyway - you'd need a huge powerup to get through them.
You should still be able to fly with ease, even holding Kai. She isn't exactly heavy, and magic makes these things a little easier.

>inventory
>Explosives knowledge.
>Consider whether the room would remain locked if you were found vanished.
>How likely is it that someone's peeping on the room to keep an eye on us?
>Contemplate molestation.

> Inventory:
Bits And Bobs
Faulty Optic Camo
11,000 Yen
PDA
Notepad (w/pencil)
Vera (20 rounds)
Rocky The Shocker
Cucumber x 18
Royal Symbol

> Fire makes things go boom. Unfortunately, nothing around here looks like it's usable for detonation.
> No-one is looking at you right now, not even a camera; if you used the belt to disappear, no-one would notice for a while which would probably defeat the point.
> You wonder if she's still wearing the Second Skin under all those clothes. You bite your lip.

> How did we escape last time?

> Through the window. They caught on.

[E-Nazrin]

> No-one is looking at you right now, not even a camera; if you used the belt to disappear, no-one would notice for a while which would probably defeat the point.

>Depends on how long we spend elsewhere and how the time aspect of this thing works out. If we manage to end up somewhere to hide out for a week, people are going to be deeply confused. At least we'd have the element of surprise next time, even if the room is occupied - and maybe some better gear, given the time and materials to dick around with stuff. Kai's completely unarmed at the moment.
>Granted, last time didn't end up all that safe, so it's a risk.

>search room for anything useful.
>"Closed room puzzles?"

[FinnKaenbyou]

>Depends on how long we spend elsewhere and how the time aspect of this thing works out. If we manage to end up somewhere to hide out for a week, people are going to be deeply confused. At least we'd have the element of surprise next time, even if the room is occupied - and maybe some better gear, given the time and materials to dick around with stuff. Kai's completely unarmed at the moment.
>Granted, last time didn't end up all that safe, so it's a risk.

>search room for anything useful.
>"Closed room puzzles?"

> You assume that in terms of the passage of time, the amount of time you spend in Not Gensokyo is equal to the time that passes in Gensokyo in your absence based on your time in Salem. It's plausible, though you'd have to hope that you ended up somewhere which wouldn't kill Kai...

> The floor tiles on the pool bottom look less sturdy than the walls. If you recall correctly, one of the store rooms is underneath here. You can hope it isn't guarded and try to break through the floor, though you get the feeling several gallons of gushing water isn't very silent. Worth considering.
> The ceiling looks a little fragile, too. You've never been to the floor above; it's the attic, where you were never meant to go as a child. Not that it stopped you from trying, of course. If you can make it to the roof, it should be easy going from there, but if you break open the ceiling at the wrong place and bring something down on you...yeah.
> Everything here reeks of fluff and shininess. This is no place for a scientist, and as such you find nothing of worth.

"Yeah. Those riddles where some murder's happened and you have to figure out how the killer made his escape. Any ideas?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'm thinking..."
>Hover up around the ceiling. Knock on it to get an idea where heavy things are.

[DracoOmega]

>Is Vera only capable of giving bad luck to people? Or can it also work on inanimate objects?

[Doll.S CUBE]

> Possibility of shooting Rocky from an angle at the ceiling so that stuff doesn't fall on you

[Fightest]

> ...
> ...
> This voice leaves for a bit and everyone gets delusions of grandeur!
> Jeeze.
> First we'll need to dismantle Rocky, as heartbreaking as it may be, but sacrifices must be made. Subtly attach leads from Rocky's electric capacitor to the palms of our hands so that we can shock someone if we grab them.
> We have then two options, one of which is the oldest trick in the book - the Injured Prisoner. Start lying around convulsing and have Kai call for help. Someone is bound to show up, and check on us. We can then grab'n'shock them and get ourselves a hostage.
> Option two is the Assassin - nobody knows Vera doesn't shoot actual bullets, so modify her to look even more like a real gun, give to Kai, call for help as Kai threatens us. Once again, someone is bound to show up.
> Oh yeah. Check for monitoring (heh, moNITORIng) equipment. Disable it.

[Doll.S CUBE]

> We can never dismantle Rocky, how dare we even think it

[FinnKaenbyou]

>"I'm thinking..."
>Hover up around the ceiling. Knock on it to get an idea where heavy things are.

> The ceiling is rather thick, but you find a spot that should be relatively safe to fire through.
"Showoff. I'll figure out a way to fly like that someday, just you wait."

>Is Vera only capable of giving bad luck to people? Or can it also work on inanimate objects?

>You aren't quite should how things like chairs could be unlucky. You assume that all it can do is curse an object, and as a result curse whoever touches it next.

> Possibility of shooting Rocky from an angle at the ceiling so that stuff doesn't fall on you

> Definitely worth playing it safe with this, yes.

> ...
> ...
> This voice leaves for a bit and everyone gets delusions of grandeur!
> Jeeze.

> The parser apologises for the poorly-handled twist and asks that you remain calm.

> First we'll need to dismantle Rocky, as heartbreaking as it may be, but sacrifices must be made. Subtly attach leads from Rocky's electric capacitor to the palms of our hands so that we can shock someone if we grab them.
> We have then two options, one of which is the oldest trick in the book - the Injured Prisoner. Start lying around convulsing and have Kai call for help. Someone is bound to show up, and check on us. We can then grab'n'shock them and get ourselves a hostage.
> Option two is the Assassin - nobody knows Vera doesn't shoot actual bullets, so modify her to look even more like a real gun, give to Kai, call for help as Kai threatens us. Once again, someone is bound to show up.
> Oh yeah. Check for monitoring (heh, moNITORIng) equipment. Disable it.

> Besides the fact you REALLY don't want to take apart Rocky, placing electric capacitors on damp hands (as yours almost always are) is more or less begging for electrocution. The other two options seem viable, though.
> There is a single camera hanging on the distant wall. Disabling it might stop people noticing your escape plans from earlier, though - are you sure you want to go through with it?

[Fightest]

> The parser apologises for the poorly-handled twist and asks that you remain calm.

> It's not the twist - that's been Chechov's Gun'd and presented in an appropriate manner. It's the other voices' inability to handle a single human girl intruder jeeze.

> Besides the fact you REALLY don't want to take apart Rocky

> Rocky knows as well as us that sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the greater good of SCIENCE! *sniff* Rocky would forgive us.

placing electric capacitors on damp hands (as yours almost always are) is more or less begging for electrocution.

> SACRIFICE. FOR. SCIENCE. Plus, how else are we supposed to take a hostage?

[Hello Purvis]

>Consider what useful bitlets might be salvaged from the camera.

[FinnKaenbyou]

> Rocky knows as well as us that sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the greater good of SCIENCE! *sniff* Rocky would forgive us.

> SACRIFICE. FOR. SCIENCE. Plus, how else are we supposed to take a hostage?

> But would you forgive yourself? Would your dreams be haunted endlessly by those metallic joints creaking in the night, spelling out your name in dying squeaks? You shiver for a moment. Kai looks confused.

> You still have Vera, which should render a subject helpless (albeit in an entirely different matter).

>Consider what useful bitlets might be salvaged from the camera.

>You aren't convinced you'll get much more from the camera than is already on your person. Perhaps if you took the recording hardware you could make your own camera further down the line, but you can't come up with any other uses for it.

[DracoOmega]

>Disabling the camera might also be a good way to get someone to open the door and investigate. At which point Vera could ensure that their efforts to stop us or close it again fail hilariously.
>Were there any windows near the immediate outside of the door we could flee through if we could get outside?

[FinnKaenbyou]

>Disabling the camera might also be a good way to get someone to open the door and investigate. At which point Vera could ensure that their efforts to stop us or close it again fail hilariously.
>Were there any windows near the immediate outside of the door we could flee through if we could get outside?

> The cogs in your brain are turning. A plan is forming, and it's beautiful.
> Nothing immediately outside the door, but there should be a few windows just down the corridor.

[Kasu]

> Quickly disassemble the camera and pocket any interesting bits.

[FinnKaenbyou]

> Quickly disassemble the camera and pocket any interesting bits.

> You float up to the camera, eying it head on. You wish there was a way to stare at whoever was watching you from the other side, but one-way communication is a jerk like that.
Ok. This sort of work requires a steady hand and a keen eye. Careful...careful...
"Hey, what're you doing up there?"
Kai's words are just enough to break your concentration, and you grab blindly at the camera, pulling it off in its entirety. You hear a light beeping coming from its spot in the wall as you pocket it to take apart properly later (preferrably when there aren't guards headed your way).
"Uh...Oops. You should've told me to shut up, though."

> Received Wall-Mounted Camera (minus wall).

> Footsteps start to make their way down the corridor. How do you plan to take out the oncoming guards?

[DracoOmega]

>"Kai, go get behind something. Out of sight."
>Get behind the door, such that you will also be out of sight when it opens
>When someone pokes out around the edge of the door, shoot the visible part of them with Vera

[Hello Purvis]

>Get Rocky in on that business, too. If we can save ammo, all the better.

[Kasu]

>"Kai, go get behind something. Out of sight."
>Get behind the door, such that you will also be out of sight when it opens
>When someone pokes out around the edge of the door, shoot the visible part of them with Vera

> If an opportunity comes up, grab Kai and head for one of the hallway windows.

[FinnKaenbyou]

>"Kai, go get behind something. Out of sight."
>Get behind the door, such that you will also be out of sight when it opens
>When someone pokes out around the edge of the door, shoot the visible part of them with Vera

"Got it!"
Kai slides behind the bed. There's more than enough space for her to crouch down behind it out of sight. The footsteps get louder.
"...just because we HAPPENED to be around..."
You can make out a familiar voice as the guards come closer.
"...getting paid extra for this, so don't complain..."
Actually, two familiar faces. Looks like you'll get some nice payback with this little escape...

>Janna and Sanna burst into the room one after the other. Both of them immediately scan the room, seeing no obvious sign of either of you. They walk forward into the room outright, ready to look behind the bed and find the waiting Kai.
That's your opening...!
You fire one round of Vera at Sanna's back. The impact doesn't register to her (I mean come on, it's a piece of ribbon), but the sound of the gun firing is another thing entirely.
"What the he-"
By the time she's turned around, there's a rocket-propelled, electro-charged fist three inches from her face.
The sound of the impact makes your heart flutter slightly.
"Oof!"
Sanna collides with her partner violently, sending the two spiralling into the wall. They slump down, with Sanna lying on top. Kai takes this as her cue, vaulting the bed and making for the open door.
"H-Hey, wait!"
Sanna pulls out her gun and aims at Kai; Janna can't take a shot given that she's being sat on at this point. She fires half a dozen shots at Kai, each time convinced she's landed a fatal shot; every time, the bullet uselessly lodges itself into the opposite wall.
"Dammit dammit dammit!"
You can hear their cries of frustration as you close the door behind Kai, bursting down the corridor towards the windows. They haven't been walled over, thankfully, but they're locked tight. You hear Sanna trying and failing to stand up in the room, so you can assume the Serpents won't trouble you for a while.

[DracoOmega]

>Can we bust the lock on the windows?

[Hello Purvis]

>Give the windows the shocker, unless it's obvious it won't work.

[FinnKaenbyou]

>Can we bust the lock on the windows?

>If you're willing to take a few minutes to screw with the lock, yes. The Serpents are down, but you aren't sure if anyone else is coming.

>Give the windows the shocker, unless it's obvious it won't work.

>This plan, on the other hand, is quick and effective, if not particularly quiet. This is hardly the time for stealth, though, and you quickly make short work of the glass.
You love firing Rocky so much. It's so empowering.
"One thing I'm not sure about," Kai notes, looking irritated. "This is great and all, but how do I get back out the reservoir? They took my pride and glory from me, and I have no idea where that girl put it..."
She looks like she would have liked a chance to dish out some revenge on the Serpents herself. Her fist shakes in the air passionately.

[Hello Purvis]

>"When did they take it from you? Maybe it's at the jail?"

[E-Nazrin]

>Ask the bad-luck Serpent where Kai's gear is; bad luck extends to slipping on important secrets, of course!
>Have Rocky ready in case the other one's recovered.

[FinnKaenbyou]

>"When did they take it from you? Maybe it's at the jail?"

>"Good guess, but they probably locked it away somewhere. We'd need the key for whatever they locked it in."

>Ask the bad-luck Serpent where Kai's gear is; bad luck extends to slipping on important secrets, of course!
>Have Rocky ready in case the other one's recovered.

>Nothing to worry about - you poke your head back into the room, and find that if anything the two guards are in an even more awkward position than before. A misplaced attempt to stand up from Sanna conveniently disarmed her partner of her weapon, so now the two are probably stuck like this for a few hours until Vera's effects wear off.
>You quickly get to interrogating Sanna about the missing gear. She puts on an expression of courage.
"Heh...that's right, you can't get your human friend without it, can you! Well, I'm not saying a word! That things locked up safe and sound, and you'll never know...where..."
Sanna's heroism comes to an abrupt end when her eyes catch something lying on the floor, literally at your feet. Looking down, you find a small key labelled 'SEA-SERPENT ARMS LOCKER'.
"Uh, you shouldn't bother with that! I-It's a trick! It opens a fake box with a deathtrap inside, so we can't have the princess open it-"
"Sanna, you moron! Do you honestly think she's going to fall for that!?"
Thank goodness, you were worried for a second there. You thank the Serpents for their help as you leave the room again. They don't return the gesture.

> Received Locker Key.